Powys

Powys' population increased by about 6,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Powys increased by 5.2%, from just over 126,000 to 133,000.

The addition of just over 6,600 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Powys was home to, on average, 0.19 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Wales' least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Powys

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Powys increased by four years, from 42 to 46 years.

This area had a higher average age than Shropshire (one of the most statistically similar areas to Powys based on ONS area classifications) (44 years of age) and the highest average age in Wales.

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 5,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 4,000.

About 15.0% of people in Powys are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Powys by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Powys fell from 20.8% to 18.6% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 1,526 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 8,136.

In Neath Port Talbot (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Powys), 15.3% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 17.8% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 20.5% to 19.0%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50.1% to 43.9%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Powys saw Wales' second-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

During this period, Powys overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the highest percentage of long hours workers.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Powys said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 18.2% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.9% to 2.9%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of people working long hours occurred in Denbighshire (from 13.9% to 10.2%).

Long hour working in Powys decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Powys, Neath Port Talbot and Wales that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Powys

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Powys, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales.

During this period, Powys fell below to become the Wales local authority area with the second-lowest percentage of single people.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.2%) people aged 16 and over in Powys said they were single, compared with 25.1% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 55.1% to 51.3%.

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 28.2% to 35.3%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in private renting

Private renting increased in Powys, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales.

Across Wales, the proportion of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.1% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby Neath Port Talbot increased from 5.9% to 10.2%.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.8%) households in Powys rented privately, compared with 12.5% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 15.3% to 14.0%.

Newport saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes (from 5.4% to 14.0%).

Private renting was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households that rented privately across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Disability in Powys

Powys saw Wales' second-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

During this period, Powys overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87.9%) in Powys reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 88.8% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.8% to 4.4%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability occurred in Monmouthshire (from 88.7% to 87.4%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Religion in Powys

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Powys was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.3 points.

In 2011, 27.9% of respondents in Powys gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 16.5% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Wales, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.1%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Powys, 61.8% said they were Christian, compared with 74.8% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 7.7% to 8.8%.

In Powys, 8.8% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.7% in 2001. In Wales, 7.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 8.1% in 2001. Across England, 7.6% of people did not answer, compared with 8.1% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Powys increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Powys by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Powys residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.1% to 6.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.8% in 2001. The percentage of Powys residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.1% to 14.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a slower rate here than in nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 10.5%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12.5% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Powys decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Powys, Neath Port Talbot and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households in Powys without children increased from 63.2% to 65.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in four (25.2%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 27.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Powys with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 9.3%.

The proportion of households without children increased faster here than in nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 58.9%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 59.5% to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Powys, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 9.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.5%) households had only one person, compared with 30.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Powys which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37.9% to 33.9%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a slower rate here than in nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 9.5%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 7.5% to 9.7%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

The percentage of employed people increased in Powys, but at a slower rate than in nearby Neath Port Talbot.

In Powys, the proportion of employed people increased from 45.2% in 2001 to 47.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Neath Port Talbot increased from 45.9% to 49.8%.

Across Wales, the share of employed people increased from 47.5% to 49.6%.

The rate of unemployment in Powys remained close to 3.1%, while the rate of self-employment remained close to 17.4%.

The rate of employment was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Powys residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.5% to 2.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.6% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 4.8%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Powys remained close to 2.9%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Powys by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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